USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. X > Part 39
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Resolved, That the Committee of accounts be allowed a Clerk, for transacting any business of this Board that may come before them.
The Committee of the City and Liberties having deliver'd Capt. Benj'a. Loxley three-quarter Casks of Powder, for the use of the united artillery Companies of this City, and Capt. Moulder & Capt. Biddle having applied to this Board, each for one-quarter cask of said Powder for the use of their Companies,
An order was drawn, directing Capt. Loxley to deliver to Capt. Moulder 1 quarter cask, and to Capt. Biddle one-quarter cask.
Resolved, That Messrs. Samuel Howell, Thomas Wharton & James Biddle, be a Committee to purchase for this Board 100 Pieces of Russia & Holland Duck, if properly imported, 48 Muskets, 12 Cutlasses & 510 pounds of Gun Powder, imported by Messrs. York & Pringle.
Resolved, That the allowance to those who mount guard by order of this Board, shall be to every Private Continental pay, or Eigh-
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teen pence for every 12 Hours, with 12d. in lieu of Rations, and no more, and in proportion to every officer according to his Rank.
Resolved, That Mr. Samuel Caldwell be directed to deliver an equal share of the Shoes, Hats & Blankets, purchased by him, for the use of the Battalion now raising in this Province for the Continen- tal Service, to the Captains of the several Companies, and to take receipts for the same.
The Captains of the different Companies of the above mention Battalion attended, agreeable to the desire of this Board, and were made acquainted with the above Resolve.
By order of the Board, an order was drawn on Mr. John Max- well Nesbitt, for forty-one shillings, in favour of William Wallace, being for Lodging and Medecines for a Sick Man belonging to Capt .. Hamilton's Boat.
Resolved, That Robert Hume be appointed Second Lieutenant of the armed Boat Ranger.
By desire of this Board, Joseph Fox, Esq'r, Barrack Master, at- tended, and Reports, That the upper part of the Barracks are now in proper order for the reception of any Troops that may be order- ed there, and that the Carpenters are now at work in the cellar part of them.
That he did not understand by the Resolve of Assembly, that he had any more to do respecting the providing for the reception of the Troops, than to put the Barracks into proper order.
That he will purchase Wood, Straw, & any other necessarys for the Troops, provided he is furnished with money for that purpose.
Upon application of Mr. Carpenter Wharton, Commissary of Provisions to the Battalion now raising, Mr. Fox, Barrack Master, was desired to let him have two cellar Rooms in the Barracks.
November 23rd .- At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.
PRESENT :
DANIEL ROBERDEAU, Chairman.
George Clymer, Owen Biddle,
Alexander Wilcocks, Thomas Wharton, jun'r.,
James Mease,
Samuel Howell.
Thomas Dewees, Gaol Keeper, having exhibited his account to this Board for the Expences of the different Guards of the Gaol while. Doct'r Kearsley, I. Brooks, & Leonard Snowden, were con - fined there, & three different accounts for the maintenance of said Kearsley, Brooks, and Snowden; It was
Resolved, That the said accounts be allowed, and that orders be drawn for the same. Accordingly three orders were drawn in his favour, on Thomas Wharton, jun'r., and others, the Committee of
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accounts, amounting in the whole to fifty-three pounds four Sh'gs & 1d.
One for £22 14 10, to be charged to this Board, for Guard Ex- pences.
One for 11 7 5, to be charg'd to Doct'r Jno. Kearsley, for Guard Expences.
One for 8 12 2, to be charg'd to Doct'r Kearsley, for his Ex- pences while in Gaol.
One for 10 9 8, to be charged to this Board, being for the Ex- pences of I. Brooks & Leonard Snowden.
Resolved, That Capt. Dougherty be directed to give orders to the Captains of the armed Boats, to make returns of the Blankets and Bedding belonging to the Men in their respective Boats, and that such Return be made to this Board on Monday next.
Colo. Roberdeau & Mr. Biddle, Reports their having Examined the Baggage belonging to Officers of the Ministerial Troops at Bos- ton, taken from on board the Ship Hope, Capt. Curwin, from Cork the 12th August last, and they now deliver a list of them ; And they further Report, that they have put the whole into the hands of Robert Towers, Commissary, to be taken care of.
Order'd, That the Continental Congress be furnish'd with a list of the above mention'd officers' baggage.
This Board understanding that a quantity of Sail Cloth, taken out of the wreck of the Ship Rebecca & Frances, with other things belonging to her, are to be sold on Tuesday next, at Absecon Beach, it is
Resolved, That Joseph Moulder be employed to go down to said sale, and purchase, for the use of the Board, the said Sail Cloth and Sails, at such price as he may think they may be worth, and the Cables & Rigging, if they can be got at low prices.
Doct'r Duffield, who went yesterday to enquire of the overseer at the pest House, upon what terms he would agree to attend and Supply such Sick Persons as should be sent there from the armed Boats, Now Reports, that the said Overseer agrees to attend the sick, & furnish them with Provisions, Drink, and wash for them, at the rate of ten Shillings per week for each Man, and two Shil- lings per week for Fire Wood.
And the Doct'r informs that he and Doct'r Rush will attend at the Pest House in Rotation, and take proper care of the Sick and Wounded Men.
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November 24th .- At a meeting of the Committee of Safety.
PRESENT :
JOHN NIXON, Chairman.
Daniel Roberdeau,
Thomas Warton, jun'r.,
James Mease,
Samuel Howell,
Anthony Wayne,
George Clymer,
James Biddle,
Alexander Wilcocks,
Owen Biddle,
Joseph Read.
Robert Whyte,
The Congress this day sent to this Committee the following Re- solves, which are order'd by the Board to be enter'd on their Min- utes, and are as follows :
"In Congress, November 17th, 1775.
"On Motion Made,
" Resolved, That the Commission'd Officers taken in the Forts of Chambly and St. Johns, be put upon their parole of Honor, that they will not go into or near any Seaport Town, nor farther than Six Miles distance from the respective places of their residence, without leave of the Continental Congress, and that they will carry on no political correspondence whatever, on the subject of the dis- pute between Great Britain and these Colonies, so long as they remain Prisoners.
" Extract from the Minutes, "Sign'd, CHAS. THOMSON, Sec'y."
" Application being made in behalf of Lieut. Symes, now in the Gaol of this City, that he be allowed to reside at Trenton, on the same parole as the other officers there ; The same was granted. " Extract from the Minutes. "Sign'd, CHAS. THOMSON, Sect'y."
In consequence of a Resolve of Congress, Lieut. Symes was dis- . charged from confinement, and the following Parole was taken and signed by him, viz't :
" I, James Smyth Symes, Lieut. in the Regiment of Royal High- land Emigrants, now a prisoner in the United Colonies, being enlarged from confinement, do Hereby promise, upon the Honor of a Gentleman, to go to Trenton in New Jersey, after which I will not go to or near any Sea Port Town, nor farther than Six Miles. from my place of Residence, without leave from the Continental Congress ; That I will carry on no Political Correspondence what- ever, on the subject of Dispute between Great Britain and these Col- onies, so long as I remain a prisoner.
"Sign'd, JAMES SMYTH SYMES."
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Upon application of Lieut. Symes, he was furnished with a copy of his written Parole.
Resolved, That Messrs. Alexander Wilcocks & Owen Biddle be a Committee to prepare a Letter to the Committee of Westmore- land County, respecting Provincial Arms, and those that they pur- chased in lieu of them that was to be made in that County, agree- able to the direction of the Assembly.
Resolved, That Messrs. Joseph Read & Geo. Clymer wait on the Honorable Continental Congress, and humbly suggest to their con- sideration an Amendment of the Resolution of the 15th July, respecting the exportation of the produce of these Colonies in lieu of Arms and Ammunition hereafter imported, so as that Lumber may be excepted out of the said Resolve, it being the unanimous opinion of this Committee that the Value of Lumber bears so small a pro- portion to that of Arms and Ammunition, that such quantities of Lumber may, and probably will be exported, as to destroy the effi- cacy of the non-Exportation agreement in a most essential Article.
Mr. Wilcocks & Mr. Nixon, the Committee appointed to Inspect the Condition of the Soldiers confined in the Work House and Gaol of the City, now Report : That those Soldiers who are confined in the Work House declared, that they had no complaint to make on account of their accommodation with Provisions and Lodging, except that they had no bedding, & begged that they should be allowed Blankets sufficient to keep them comfortable at this season. The Soldiers in the Gaol complain. that the Provisions supplied them was insufficient for their subsistance, and that they wanted firing and bedding.
Your Committee directed the Gaoler to provide them wood for Fire, and upon examination, were of opinion that their complaints were not well founded, and gave such direction for their future supply as will leave them no reasonable cause of Complaint.
Robert Towers, Commissary, Reports his having Receiv'd from Thos. Yorke, 10} barrels Powder, weighing 5001bs.
November 25th .- At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.
PRESENT :
GEORGE CLYMER, Chair'n.
James Mease, Anthony Wayne,
Thomas Wharton, jun'r., Samuel Howell,
Samuel Morris, jun'r., Owen Biddle,
Upon ap'lication of Mr. Thomas Wharton, one of the Committee for importing and procuring of Gun Powder, Arms, &c., for the use of this Province ; it is,
Resolved, That they, the said Committee, direct Mr. John Wil- cocks to load the ship Woodmas, Capt. Henderson, with the pro-
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duce of these Colonies, for the purpose of procuring said Articles from Foreign Parts, & that the following Certificate be issued, vizt. :
"This is to certifie that Mr. John Wilcocks has permission to Load the Ship Woodmas, - Henderson, Mr., with the pro duce of these Colonies, the same being for account of this Pro- vince, agreeable to a Resolve of the Honorable the Congress, dated 26th October, 1775.
" By order of the Committee, " Sign'd, GEO. CLYMER, Chairman.
" To the Committee of Inspection and observation for this or any other Province, and all whom these present may concern."
. The Board taking into consideration the absolute necessity of procuring a number of heavy Canon as soon as possible, it was
Upon Motion made,
Resolved, That Messrs. George Clymer, James Mease, Samuel Howell, Owen Biddle, Anthony Wayne, & John Cadwalader, be a Committee, with full powers, to compleat an agreement with Mr. Samuel Potts and Mr. Bustead, for casting a Number of heavy Canon, and that these Gentlemen be requested to take Mr. Rit- tenhouse with them to Mr. Potts's Works, or to take any other Measures for effecting this purpose which they may think proper.
Upon Motion,
Order'd, That Mr. Rittenhouse, Capt. White, Mr. Luke Morris, Mr. Peter Reeve, and Mr. Oswald Eve, or any three of them, be requested to make a survey of the River Delaware from Marcus Hook to this City, with the several Shoals, Barrs, and depths of water, with descriptions of the Shores, and Elevation of the Banks, and make return of the same to this Board.
Resolved, That the Captains of the armed Boats be informed that they are to send their Sick people to the Pest House on Pro- vince Island, where there is beds provided for their reception, and an agreement made with the overseer of the House to furnish them with Provisions, Fire Wood, proper Drink, and to wash for them ; And that Doct'r Rush & Doct'r Duffield will attend there in Rota- tion.
Upon Motion made,
Ordered, That the following Resolves of Congress be enter'd upon the Minutes of this Committee, vizt. :
" In Congress, Wenesday 22nd November, 1775.
"The Congress resumed the consideration of the Report from the Committee of the whole, and the same was agreed to, as fol- lows :
" The Committee of the whole House, to whom were referred the several petitions from the Island of Bermuda, representing the
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distress to which they are exposed by the non-exportation agree- ment, and praying to be relieved in such manner as the Congress may deem consistent with the Safety of America, Report that they have considered the same, and thereupon came to the following Resolutions :
" That the Inhabitants of the Island of Bermuda appear Friendly to the cause of America, and ought to be supplied with such and so great a quantity of the produce of the Colonies as may be nec- essary for their Subsistance and home consumption ; that, in the opinion of this Committee, they will annually require, for the pur- poses aforesaid, Seventy-two thousand bushels of Indian Corn, two thousand Barrels of Bread or Flour, one thousand barrels of beef or Pork, two thousand one hundred bushels of Pease or Beans, and three hundred tierces of Rice, and that they be permitted to export the same yearly.
" That the said inhabitants ought to pay for the above annual allowance in Salt, but it is not the design of this Resolution to exclude them from the priviledge of receiving American produce to any amount in exchange for arms, ammunition, Salt petre, Sul- phur, and Field Pieces, agreeable to a Resolution of Congress, passed the 15th of July last.
"That to enable such of these Colonies as can conveniently furnish the said Island of Bermuda with the above mentioned annual allow- ance, to divide whatever advantages may result therefrom, in pro- portion to their respective Shares of the general expence, it is fur- ther the opinion of this Committee,
." That the Colony of South Carolina Supply them with three hun- dred Tierces of Rice.
" That the Colony of North Carolina Supply them with Sixteen thousand Bushels of Indian Corn, and four hundred and Sixty-Eight bushels of Peas or Beans.
" That the Colony of Virginia Supply them with thirty-Six thou- sand bushels of Indian Corn, and one thousand and Fifty Bushels of Peas or Beans.
" That the Colony of Maryland supply them with twenty-thousand Bushels of Indian Corn, and five hundred and Eighty-two Bushels of Peas or Beans.
" That the Colony of Pennsylvania Supply them with twelve hun- dred barrels of Flour or Bread, and Six hundred barrels of beef or Pork.
"That the Colony of New York Supply them with eight hundred barrels of Flour or Bread, and four hundred barrels of Beef or Pork.
" That the Conventions or Committees of Safety of the above men- tion'd Colonies, ought to Superintend the exportation, provide against fraud, and take care that, in exchanging the said Commodi- ties of Salt & Provisions, no undue advantage be taken by either party, of their mutual wants; and farther, that no Vessel employed
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in this business, ought to load without their permission, and that when they shall, in pursuance of these Resolutions, permit any or the said Vessels to load, they do give notice thereof to the Commit- tee of inspection of the County, City, or town where such Vessel shall load, and inform them that the same is done under the Au- thority and by Order of this Congress.
"That these Resolutions ought to be kept as private as the exe- cution of them will admit ; that they should be transmitted to the Several Conventions, Assemblies, or Committees of Safety of the United Colonies, and to the Island of Bermuda; and that the In- habitants of the latter be informed that the Congress will afford them other Necessaries, (such as lumber, Soap, and Candles,) when- ever the quality and quantity of each of those articles used in the Island, shall be ascertained.
" That Edward Stiles be permitted, under the direction of the Committee of Safety of the Colony of Pennsylvania, to Send the Sea Nymph, Samuel Stobel, Master, with 4000 Bushels of Indian Corn, 300 barrels of Flour, 100 barrels of Bread, 20 barrels of Pork, 8 barrels of Beef, 30 Boxes of Soap, and 15 Barrels of Apples, to Bermuda, for the immediate Supply of the Inhabitants, and that the said Cargo be consider'd as part of the annual allowance afore- said, for the year ensuing.
" Extract from the Minutes.
"Sign'd, CHARLES THOMSON, Sect'y.
" Resolved, That this Board request the Committee of Inspec- tion and observation to see the resolve of Congress (inserted this day) carried into execution, granting permission to Edward Stiles to Load with Provisions the Sea Nymph, Samuel Stobel, Master, for Bermuda."
27th November .- At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety. PRESENT :
Daniel Roberdeau, John Montgomery, Alexander Wilcocks, George Clymer,
Robert Whyte, James Biddle, Owen Biddle,
Samuel Howell,
-
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28th November -At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety. PRESENT :
JOHN NIXON, Chairman,
Samuel Howell,
Owen Biddle,
Samuel Morris, jun'r,
Robert Whyte,
Thomas Wharton, jun'r.,
James Biddle,
John Cadwalader, George Clymer.
Upon application of Major An'y J. Morris for the use of the large House at the Barracks, for the Field Officers of the Pennsylvania Battalion now raising, the Board gave directions to Joseph Fox, Esq'r, Barrack Master, to deliver the Key of the said House to Ma- jor Morris.
Upon application of a Committee of Congress for 100 1bs. Gun Powder for Scaling of Canon; an order was drawn by direction of the Board, for Mr. Towers, Commissary, to deliver Capt. Reed 100 pounds of powder.
Upon application of Major Samuel Mifflin, for Captain Samuel Davidson to have leave of absence, to make a Voyage in his Ship in the Service of the Congress ; it is
Resolved, That Captain Davidson have leave of absence to go a Voyage in the above mention'd employ.
The Congress this day sent to this Committee the following order, which is directed by this Board to be delivered to Messrs. Mease & Caldwell, for the use of the Pennsylvania Battalion now raising.
CONGRESS, 27th November, 1775.
" Gent'n:
" Please to pay to the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania three thousand Dollars, for the Pay of the Battalion raised by order of the Congress in this Colony, the said Committee to be accountable for the Expenditure of said Sum.
"I am, Gent'n, your most " obed't h'ble Serv't, "Sign'd JOHN HANCOCK, Presid't.
" To Michael Hillegas & George Clymer, Esq'rs, Continental Treasurers."
Upon application of the Commanders of the armed Boats for an Increase to their allowance of Provisions, The Board, after having considered their application, do
Resolve, That the allowance of Provisions to the Captains of the armed Boats be three Rations, and the allowance of Provisions to the Lieutenants of the Boats be two Rations, which allowances they are to receive from the day of the date of their respective Com- missions.
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John Saunders, Pilot, confined in the Gaol of this County, by or- der and agreeable to a Resolve of this Board of the 11th Inst., now Petitions this Committee to be released from confinement; it is
Resolved, That as this Board think the time the said Jno. Saun- ders has been in confinement, is a sufficient punishment for his crime, as set forth in said Resolve of the 11th inst., and that he be now discharged from his present confinement, on his taking the follow- ing Oath :
" Philad'a. ss :
"John Saunders, Pilot in the Bay and River of Delaware, being sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, doth declare and promise to the Committee of Safety of the Province of Pennsylva- nia, that whatever knowledge he may have obtain'd of the New Channel between the Chivaux de Frize, near Fort Island, he will not, on any account, devulge to any person or persons whatever, but will entirely keep secret.
Sign'd "JOHN SAUNDERS.
" Sworn Nov'r 28th, 1775, before
"JAMES BIDDLE."
29th November .- At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.
PRESENT :
JOHN NIXON, Chairman.
Samuel Howell, Daniel Roberdeau,
George Clymer, John Cadwalader,
James Biddle, Owen Biddle.
Thomas Wharton, jun'r,
Upon application of Capt. Thomas Dorsey, for the payment of 17 Firelocks, purchased by him for the use of his Company, in the Pennsylvania Bat'n now raising for the service of the United Colo- nies, By order of the Board an order was drawn in his favour on Messrs. Mease & Caldwell, Paymasters, for fifty-seven pounds twelve shillings.
Upon application of Congress, through Robert Morris, Esq'r., for Eight half Barrels of Powder, sent from Bermuda by Henry Tucker, Chairman of the Deputies of the several Parishes of that Island, belonging to Capt. John Cowper of North Carolina, for the use of the Inhabitants of that Province,
Resolved, That Robert Morris, Esq'r., give orders to Robert Towers, Commiss'y, to deliver the said 8 half Barrels of Powder for the use aforesaid, and that the Delegates in Congress pay this Board the portionable part of Freight and other Expences bringing the said Powder to this City.
Resolved, That Francis Procter be appointed Lieutenant of the Artillery Company Commanded by Thomas Procter.
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The Commissioners & Assessors of Westmoreland County return'd the order sent them some time past, sign'd by Benj'a. Franklin, on Michael Hellegas, Esq'r., Treasurer to this Board, for one hundred pounds, dated 29th September last, and informs this Committee that they have purchased from Colo. St. Clair 100 Firelocks for the use of said County, at 40s. each; for the payment of them they have drawn an order on this Board for two hundred pounds ; this Committee inform'd them by Letter that they will take the said Firelocks for the use of the Armed Boats, and requested they would get new ones made for their County, agreeable to the Resolve of As- sembly.
Resolved, That the Committee of accounts do pay Colo. St. Clair two hundred pounds, and take his Note, condition'd to return said Money, in case the above mention'd Firelocks are not deliver'd to this Committee; an order was accordingly drawn in his favor on Thomas Wharton and others, the Committee of accounts, for said sum of Two hundred pounds.
30th November .- At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety. PRESENT :
JOHN NIXON, Chairman.
Daniel Roberdeau,
Robert Whyte,
James Mease,
Samuel Howell,
John Cadwalader,
George Clymer,
James Biddle,
Andrew Allen.
Robert Towers, Commissary, Reports his having Received the following articles into Store :
4 half & 2 q'rs Casks Gun Powder, w't 250 Ibs., from Oswald Eve. from Owen Biddle. 109} Ibs. Salt Petre
Upon application of Capt. John Shea,
Resolved, That this Committee advance to Mr. Wigfal the sum of one hundred pounds, to enable him to prosecute the Business of Gun Lock making, agreeable to his contract with Capt's. Shea, Wil- cocks and Cadwalader :
That those Gentlemen take proper Security from the said Wigfal, and draw an order on this Committee for said Sum of One hundred pounds.
Upon Motion Made,
Resolved, That the following Resolve of Congress be enter'd on the Minutes of this Committee :
VOL. X .- 27.
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"In Congress, Monday 27th November, 1775.
" On Motion Made,
" Resolved, That the Troops in the Service of the Continent be supplied with Fuel & Bedding at the expense of the Continent.
"Extract from the Minutes.
"Sign'd, CHA'S THOMSON, Sec'y."
The Committee of Safety are of opinion, that it is not improper for Mr. James Innes to purchase any second hand Arms which he may find in the hands of Individuals of this Province, and therefore have no objection to his buying them ; But as they have employed, and are endeavouring to employ, all the Artificers that can be pro- cured in making new arms for the public, they apprehend any ap- plication by Mr. Innes to such Artificers, will be attended with bad consequences to the general Cause by enhancing the Price of arms, and that as fast as arms come into the hands of this Board, they will readily Spare such proportion of them for the use of the Colo- ny of Virginia as the necessities of this Province will admit.
A Letter was this day wrote to Colo. Thomas Mifflin, inclosing Lt. Symes' order on Major Small for £50, st'g, which Colo. Mifflin is desired to receive, and inform this Board when he is in Cash, and when this Board receives an account of said Bills being paid, they will pay the amount to Lieut. Symes.
Resolved, That Mr. Clement Biddle be notified that his Con- tract for supplying the Men belonging to the Armed Boats with provisions, will terminate on the 10th December next.
That the following advertisement be put in the Newspapers, re- questing every person desirous of undertaking the Contract, to send in their proposals to this Committee by the 6th of December next :
"All persons who are willing to supply the officers and men em- ployed in the Armed Boats with the following Rations, vizt :
" Seven pounds of Bread per week, or six pounds of Flour.
"Ten pounds of Beef, Mutton or Pork. .
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